Xeon E5420 vs Celeron M 585
Xeon E5420
Celeron M 585
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Xeon E5420 is positioned at rank 1033 and the Celeron M 585 is on rank 430, so the Celeron M 585 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5420
Performance Per Dollar Celeron M 585
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5420 | Celeron M 585 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($6,500) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Harpertown (2007−2008) / 45 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Merom (2006−2008) / 65 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5420 | Celeron M 585 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($6,500) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E5420 and Celeron M 585
Xeon E5420
The Xeon E5420 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 November 2007 (18 years ago). It is based on the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 2.5 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB L2 Cache. L2 cache: 6 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA771. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR2, DDR3 Depends on motherboard. Passmark benchmark score: 2,044 points. Launch price was $316.
Celeron M 585
The Celeron M 585 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 20 August 2008 (17 years ago). It is based on the Merom (2006−2008) architecture. It features 1 cores and 1 threads. Max frequency: 2.16 GHz. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 65 nm process technology. Socket: PGA478. Thermal design power (TDP): 1 MB. Passmark benchmark score: 2,062 points. Launch price was $70.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5420 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron M 585 offers 1 cores / 1 threads — the Xeon E5420 has 3 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.5 GHz on the Xeon E5420 versus 2.16 GHz on the Celeron M 585 — a 14.6% clock advantage for the Xeon E5420. The Xeon E5420 uses the Harpertown (2007−2008) architecture (45 nm), while the Celeron M 585 uses Merom (2006−2008) (65 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5420 scores 2,044 against the Celeron M 585's 2,062 — a 0.9% lead for the Celeron M 585.
| Feature | Xeon E5420 | Celeron M 585 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+300% | 1 / 1 |
| Boost Clock | 2.5 GHz+16% | 2.16 GHz |
| Base Clock | 2.5 GHz | — |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB L2 Cache | — |
| L2 Cache | 6 MB (total)+500% | 1 MB |
| Process | 45 nm-31% | 65 nm |
| Architecture | Harpertown (2007−2008) | Merom (2006−2008) |
| PassMark | 2,044 | 2,062 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 314 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 881 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5420 uses the LGA771 socket (PCIe 2.0), while the Celeron M 585 uses PGA478 (PCIe 1.1) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR2-667 on the Xeon E5420 versus 800 on the Celeron M 585 — the Celeron M 585 supports 199% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Xeon E5420 supports up to 32 GB of RAM compared to 4 — 155.6% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 4 (Xeon E5420) vs 2 (Celeron M 585). PCIe lanes: 32 (Xeon E5420) vs 0 (Celeron M 585) — the Xeon E5420 offers 32 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 5000P,Intel 5100,Intel 5400 (Xeon E5420) and GL40,GM45 (Celeron M 585).
| Feature | Xeon E5420 | Celeron M 585 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA771 | PGA478 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 2.0+82% | PCIe 1.1 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR2-667 | 800+39900% |
| Max RAM Capacity | 32 GB+838860700% | 4 |
| RAM Channels | 4+100% | 2 |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | 32 | 0 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization support: Yes (Xeon E5420) vs false (Celeron M 585). Direct competitor: Celeron M 585 rivals Mobile Sempron SI-40.
| Feature | Xeon E5420 | Celeron M 585 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| IGPU Model | — | None |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | No | No |
| Virtualization | Yes | false |
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